Current page is: Christina Hoddle

Christina has collaborated with the Hoddle laboratory since 2004. Christina has dedicated her research efforts towards biological control and invasive species with an emphasis on crop pests. She has been involved in a variety of international projects sponsored by various granting agencies, private institutions, and commodity boards. An example of these finished and on-going projects include: hunting for bean thrips in Australia (Funded: Citrus Research Board-CRB), identification and production of pheromone for avocado seed moth (Stenoma catenifer) in Guatemala and Peru (Funded: CA Avocado Commission), searching for Asian citrus psyllid parasitoids in Pakistan (Funded: CDFA/CRB), monitoring Rodolia cardinalis populations on the Galapagos Islands and assessing the impact of this biocontrol agent on the cottony cushion scale, Icerya purchasi (Funded: Various Donors), red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus and R. vulneratus) flight activity in Saudi Arabia (Funded: King Faisal University) and genetic analyses throughout southeast Asia (Funded: CDFA).

From December 2011 through April 2013, Christina was in charge of releasing and monitoring Tamarixia radiata (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a biological control agent of Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) in urban areas of Southern California. This project has proven to be extremely successful, and parasites have been detected 5-7 miles beyond their release points. CDFA and the Citrus Research Board have subsequently taken over the mass production and releases of this parasitoid. Since then, Christina has focused her efforts on a second parasitoid Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae).This solitary endoparasitoid prefers to attack 2nd-3rd instars of ACP, whereas Tamarixia radiata prefers the 4th-5th instars. The goal is to utilize both parasitoids as a control strategy to create a complementary effect where they attack nearly all of the nymphal stages of ACP. Christina is currently in charge of rearing Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis and as of December 2014 started the release and monitoring program in urban areas of Southern California.

Currently, Christina is working with the South American Palm Weevil (SAPW). This weevil is native to Central and South America where it causes significant mortality of native and introduced palm trees. This pest is currently expanding its range from northern Mexico (i.e., Tijuana) into Southern California (i.e., San Diego County). While it has been detected in San Diego, little has been done to control its advancement north. She has been working with the CDFA, San Diego Parks and Recreation Staff, County Agricultural Commissioners, palm management specialists and growers (ornamentals and dates) to map the spread of this pest and to develop management protocols. This is a rapidly developing and high profile program. She is working in both the field and lab settings to map the spread of this pest as well as understand its maximum flight capabilities to determine potential quarantine restrictions needed to contain this problem.